Social audit unearths fund misuse

Aizawl, Aug 6 (UNI) Prism (People's Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram) today accused the Tlangnuam watershed committee of misusing funds alloted for the Integrated Wasteland Development Programme.

Prism, a state level NGO, had alleged that the committee had knowingly given wrong figures to the authorities regarding the utilisation of funds in the project meant for farmers in Aizawl's Tlangnuam district.

After conducting a social audit on Saturday night in the locality, Prism came to the conclusion that at least Rs 6,65,173 of the sanctioned Rs 9,96,700 (first installment) was missing.

Prism's social audit had been inspired by Miclun (Mizoram Cultivators and Labourers' Union) and Mizoram Consumers' Union which had sought information on the utilisation of the funds under the RTI Act. The information given to the two organisations was, however, found to be contradictory.

''While some farmers did not receive the actual amount recorded against their names in the file, there were also ghost beneficiaries,'' Prism president Vanlalruata stated here.

Prism will today file an FIR with the Anti-Corruption Branch in this regard.

UNI